It was no surprise Chris Culliver had immediate success, once he switched from wide receiver to safety. He'd played mostly defensive back throughout high school and was quite familiar with it. What was impressive was he managed to stand out, as a leader and a player, in a secondary that was stocked...[details]

2007 (Sophomore): Sophomore who is penciled in as the pre-spring starter at strong safety... earned Freshman All-SEC honors by both the league's coaches and by The Sporting News as a true freshman in 2006.. started five games during the season, including the first three contests and the Liberty Bowl game against Houston... also started at Florida... was the only true freshman on the squad to start the season opener at Mississippi State... suffered a left knee sprain against Wofford, which caused him to miss three straight games (FAU, Auburn and Kentucky)... returned for the Vanderbilt game and logged six solo tackles in that contest... despite only playing in 10 games, ranked tied for third on the team in tackles with 47, including 40 solo stops... recorded five tackles for loss... forced one fumble which helped turn the game at Clemson... had a season-high nine tackles in the win over Wofford and seven stops against Arkansas... regarded as one of the team's best tacklers.

2006 (Freshman): The Gamecocks have a big need for depth at safety, and Cook will be given a long look to show he's capable of filling that role as a true freshman.

The Good: Plays with reckless abandon and loves to fly all over the field and throw his body around. Is very coordinated, breaks down well in space and consistently takes good angles to the ball. Possesses clean footwork and a smooth back-pedal. Showcases an ability to flip his hips and run down the field with receivers. A balanced defender who changes directions effortlessly in all areas of his game.The Bad: Lacks size for the position and is too easily washed out of plays near the line of scrimmage. Needs to become more disciplined on and off the field. Plays out of control at times, taking himself out of plays, and has some character concerns off the field.